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One person was killed and more than 20 people were shot and injured at a rally in Kansas City, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves announced Wednesday, adding that a third person was taken into custody for questioning.
“We have confirmed one death,” he said, adding that authorities were still investigating the total number of victims.
“Three people are in custody for investigation,” Graves told reporters.
An estimated 1 million people were in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday celebrating the team's back-to-back championships, but the area where the shooting occurred was steps away from where the team gathered thousands of fans for a victory rally after the parade. It was a remote place. .
The crowd included children, as the Kansas City metropolitan area school district canceled classes to allow students to participate in the celebration.
The shooting is just the latest example of gun violence disrupting American life in places once thought safe. This was at a sports festival where a large number of spectators gathered. Other locations include churches, schools, grocery stores, outlet malls, hospitals, college campuses, and home parties. In June 2023, two people were shot as fans were leaving the Denver Nuggets' NBA title celebration.
The four injured and eight others were taken to University Health Truman Medical Center on Wednesday, said hospital spokesman Keith King.
In photos: Kansas City shooting after Chiefs celebration
Players were still on stage at the Chiefs' victory rally when the shooting occurred and were still mingling after it ended. Some people began to evacuate the area, which was still full of fans, and when they heard gunshots they started running away in fear.
Graves said two suspects were taken into custody after the shooting. He added that more than 800 law enforcement officers were on scene for the event when the shooting occurred on the west side of Union Station.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said at a news conference that all Chiefs players, coaches and staff in attendance were safe and sound.
Madison Anders, 24, said she thought there were fireworks going off, but then the man in front of her turned around and yelled, “I have a gun.” he has a gun ”
She said she listened to more pop music. This one was noisier.
“That's when all the chaos started,” Anders said. As everyone started running, Anders fell to the ground. “I felt like I was going to die. I felt like a sitting duck and was about to get shot.”
The celebration began with Chiefs players crowding into double-decker buses and waving to fans as they drove around town. Star athlete Travis Kelce was spotted riding the same bus as Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, but his girlfriend, star musician Taylor Swift, was apparently unable to travel. Swift is scheduled to tour Australia this weekend.
Some players didn't take long to exit their vehicles to walk the parade route, high-fiving fans and handing out drinks to those who had been waiting to cheer on the Chiefs all morning. there was.
A victory rally after the parade saw several players toasting their team's ties to the city, a statement made even more poignant in the aftermath of people fleeing in fear.
“Everything we've been able to do this year is because of you guys,” said Chris Jones, the team's standout defensive lineman.
“Chief Kingdom, you are the reason we are doing this,” Mahomes said. After shooting, he posted on x: “Pray for Kansas City.”
With this championship, the Chiefs solidified their status as the NFL's newest dynasty. Mahomes, who at 28 years old already claims the title of greatest quarterback of all time, ran along the parade route with his arms outstretched. It was the same pose he took after scoring the winning touchdown in overtime on Sunday.
Mahomes certainly enjoyed last year's parade, at one point handing out the Lombardi Trophy to a fan and then apparently forgetting it as he left. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt placed the trophy inside a double-decker bus this year, keeping it out of the hands of the quarterback and any fans he might have left it with.
Championship parades are often a time for players to celebrate their victories, unwind, and de-stress as they prepare for the offseason. During a virtual news conference Tuesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that his players “have been mentioned several times” not to go overboard with the celebrations.
“It's great to have fun and be smart,” he added.
Joe Hennessy, a reporter for local station KCTV, posted a video of X Chiefs fans arriving at the parade route at 4 a.m. to secure their spots at the front.
“Chiefs fans have different physiques!” he wrote.
This is breaking news and will be updated.
CNN's Sarah Dewberry and David Close contributed to this report.
